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What happened to us as we neared the great and splendid City of Mexico; and how we made our bold and daring entrance, and Montezuma met us in solemn state and visited with Cortes.

had now lain a fortnight at Cholula and had seen the town repeopled, the markets again filled with goods, peace concluded and a cross erected. The troops sent to lie in ambush and attack us had gone back to Mexico, and again Montezuma sent spies to find what our plans were and if we purposed going to his city. Again, therefore, our captain called a council of those officers and soldiers in whose loyalty and judgment he had confidence, and it was agreed that we should send a friendly message to Montezuma. "We had now carried out the command of our king," the message went, "journeying over many seas and through far distant lands solely to see him and tell him what it would be greatest advantage for him to know. We had taken the road to Cholula because his ambassadors had guided us, and there we had been forced to punish some of the people who had treacherously plotted to kill us. Convinced of his friendship, we were setting out at once for his great city."